2021-2022 NBA Season

[WiggyRuss]

Still under .500

I am certainly not worried about the Knicks- but the Celtics are playing really well....the Hornets and Raptors are solid too.

If the Cavs really want to firm up a playoff spot, I think they have to make a deal to get a playmaker in the back court. Too much is on Garland right now. He has turned into by far their most important player.

At least if Allen or Mobley are out- the other is their to guard the paint. Markkanene is out but Love can play that role in a solid way.

you just dont expect both Rubio and Sexton to be out for the year- its really not something you can plan for.

 

[WiggyRuss]

The Lakers would get hosed on that deal. Walker has had way too many injuries. Fournier is pedestrian. This trade has the same stench as the Houston Westbrook-Wall swap.

it helps them this year- but obviously giving up the pick- and taking on Fournier's long term money is not ideal.

It would pretty much obliterate any chance of signing a mid-to-high level guy after next year when RW retires.

As is, if the Lakers go the cap space route- when RW is gone- the only contracts on the books would be LeBron, Davis and THT.

If they wanted someone to take THT off their hands to create more cap space they probably could.

As you know- not all "max contracts" are created equally. The "max" Garland will get from the Cavs as a young guy will be 25% of the cap. LeBron's "max" started at 35% but has built in raises- its why he is at 45 million this year. I think annual raises are like 6% or something.

The wild card is LeBron- he will be eligible for a max of about 45 million a year (thats his salary this year- so its likely a little more- but hard to really nail down- probably in the neighborhood of 50 million a year over say a 3 or 4 year deal). Davis will make 40. THT 10M (though like I said he could be moved.

so just Davis and LeBron are like 88 million out of a cap expected to be about 116 million in 2022-2023. That leaves about 28 million.

If LeBron decides to stay- could he take 30M a year to open up max room? I've never seen, nor expect LeBron to take less than the max- but who knows. Does LeBron leave and the Lakers decide to go young with ONLY Davis on the books- which would open up a ton of options--- going for guys that are younger and cheaper but still high talent instead of committing probably 50 million a year to a soon-to-be 38-39 year old LeBron?

Its interesting to look at.

 

[Retroram52]

I think you are right Wiggy. I believe the Lakers have offered their deal already to any takers and the league has responded with a resounding "No Deal". The Lakers are resigned to sitting on their waste of a roster and I think they will shift gears in the summer and move Westbrook and begin a bona fide re-build mode.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I think you are right Wiggy. I believe the Lakers have offered their deal already to any takers and the league has responded with a resounding "No Deal". The Lakers are resigned to sitting on their waste of a roster and I think they will shift gears in the summer and move Westbrook and begin a bona fide re-build mode.

I think it is an interesting question with LeBron.

If he TRULY wanted to win and stay in LAL- taking say 30 million a year- instead of 45-50 million a year- would give them enough room to bring in a 3rd star off the free agent market. 3 options i see-

1. In the "best case" scenario- LeBron stays in LA- gives a discount- gets a stud 3rd star.

2. in another scenario- he leaves, and the Lakers have Davis, and a shit ton of cap space.

3. in another scenario- LeBron signs a 3 year max at about 50M a year- they have cap room to bring in a good but not great player.

Those are the 3 big options. I wouldnt say its IMPOSSIBLE LeBron takes the discount- but that seems unlikely to me with how he has operated. I think- as ownership goes- just generally- not just with the Lakers- that he would feel a team was getting over on him.

 

[The Q]

I think you are right Wiggy. I believe the Lakers have offered their deal already to any takers and the league has responded with a resounding "No Deal". The Lakers are resigned to sitting on their waste of a roster and I think they will shift gears in the summer and move Westbrook and begin a bona fide re-build mode.

Idk how you move Westbrooks deal.

But the Knicks are the one saying no to that deal imo

The protection makes that deal untenable for the Knicks

 

[Retroram52]

You are real close to what reality will dictate, Wiggy. I see the Lakers making the case for a slightly lower salary because of age and associated missed-time but it won't be too far south of $50 mill a year. Maybe a shorter contract of two years instead of three or four years.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I think you are right Wiggy. I believe the Lakers have offered their deal already to any takers and the league has responded with a resounding "No Deal". The Lakers are resigned to sitting on their waste of a roster and I think they will shift gears in the summer and move Westbrook and begin a bona fide re-build mode.

I dont know if you are in "rebuild" mode when you have LeBron and Davis. lol.

I think re-tool might be a better way to say. You are just going to be operating on the fringes anyway with no cap space and little trade assets.

Maybe they deal RW in the offseason when he is an expiring contract- but a team trading for RW has to cobble together 48 million in K's- and expect some of it to be long term money that would hurt future cap space. You arent going to trade RW's expiring for the same exact amount in expiring deals. Thats what complicates it.

Its hard for me to see a scenario where the Lakers deal RW since I think they would have to take back money like Fournier's which is long term and ruins their cap space even when RW would have been gone.

I think they are probably locked into this trio for this year and next year unless say a Wall deal or something like that happens.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Idk how you move Westbrooks deal.

But the Knicks are the one saying no to that deal imo

The protection makes that deal untenable for the Knicks

its so hard to move him. Getting that much in $ back is really not easy to accomplish.

Plus- I really dont think they want to jeopardize their cap room the year after RW is set to expire- and except for a Wall deal- I do not see how you do that.

 

[Retroram52]

I agree Wiggy. The Lakers remain hopeful but as time marches on, they are surrendering to the notion that they are stuck with Westbrook for the duration of that ridiculous albatross of a contract.

 

[WiggyRuss]

You are real close to what reality will dictate, Wiggy. I see the Lakers making the case for a slightly lower salary because of age and associated missed-time but it won't be too far south of $50 mill a year. Maybe a shorter contract of two years instead of three or four years.

right.

Do you want to be the one asking LeBron to be the 3rd highest paid player on his own team? lol. Send in the intern to deliver that message.

 

[Retroram52]

Def a sacrificial sheepski!

 

[The Q]

its so hard to move him. Getting that much in $ back is really not easy to accomplish.

Plus- I really dont think they want to jeopardize their cap room the year after RW is set to expire- and except for a Wall deal- I do not see how you do that.

I’m just not sure who wants him besides the Knicks.

They need the pg help. And have a rough deal like Fournier might help make it easier for both sides.

Plus Fournier is a much better fit with Lebron.

But the contract length is not idea like you mentioned

 

[WiggyRuss]

wonder who will take Durant's spot in the East.

Think it comes down to Ball, Allen or Brown.

Charlotte not having an All Star makes me think Ball is likely. Game is in Cleveland and Allen has been one of the, if not the best defender in the East, helps his case.

Brown is probably the most talented and the Celtics have been on a nice run lately.

Tough choice. Of course I hope its Allen.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I’m just not sure who wants him besides the Knicks.

They need the pg help. And have a rough deal like Fournier might help make it easier for both sides.

Plus Fournier is a much better fit with Lebron.

But the contract length is not idea like you mentioned

right.

I think from a basketball standpoint and looking at this year it makes sense- but do you want the extra 2 years of Fournier? He is a good fit with LeBron- but is that who you want as the long term #3- because thats what it kind of locks you into.

you COULD then trade THT and a bunch of small deals for a 4th guy- but he would be someone who's value has fallen that another team is trying to get rid of.

Dinwiddie? Man- what a shit signing for Washington. Been a disaster and they already want him gone ASAP.

 

[The Q]

wonder who will take Durant's spot in the East.

Think it comes down to Ball, Allen or Brown.

Charlotte not having an All Star makes me think Ball is likely. Game is in Cleveland and Allen has been one of the, if not the best defender in the East, helps his case.

Brown is probably the most talented and the Celtics have been on a nice run lately.

Tough choice. Of course I hope its Allen.

Brown has missed enough game that he shouldn’t get it an invite as he’s only played 39 of 53 games

 

[The Q]

right.

I think from a basketball standpoint and looking at this year it makes sense- but do you want the extra 2 years of Fournier? He is a good fit with LeBron- but is that who you want as the long term #3- because thats what it kind of locks you into.

you COULD then trade THT and a bunch of small deals for a 4th guy- but he would be someone who's value has fallen that another team is trying to get rid of.

Dinwiddie? Man- what a shit signing for Washington. Been a disaster and they already want him gone ASAP.

But he’s only partially guaranteed year 3 and he might get better with a year away of the knee injury

 

[WiggyRuss]

lets say- you trade THT and some contracts for Dinwiddie....and do the RW Knicks deal

PG: Kemba
SG: Dinwiddie
SF: Fournier
PF: Bron
C: Davis

is that championship caliber? eh....better than now- but Dinwiddie and Fournier are there for a longer time- THT is gone, and your 2027 1st rounder is gone. You are operating with no flexibility for years to come.

but that is a team- with more shooting that maybe Bron can make do some things.

 

[WiggyRuss]

how the hell do the Clippers- with no Kawhi, and George missing tons of time- sitting higher in the standings than the Lakers?

that is just bonkers.

 

[WiggyRuss]

looking at the Lakers box score

its not a huge deal that Bazemore has 7 minutes and Ariza 12 minutes- okay- i know that.

but- your playing fucking 11 guys Vogel. Bazemore is cooked. Ariza is cooked. Try and find a semi-stable rotation instead of just throwing shit against the wall.

If you are going to play young guys like Reeves and THT- then play them! No reason to go 11 deep. Get some consistency. Let guys know what to expect night-in-and-night out.

 

[The Q]

how the hell do the Clippers- with no Kawhi, and George missing tons of time- sitting higher in the standings than the Lakers?

that is just bonkers.

The lakers squandered their expiring contracts and one of the few firsts they can trade for Russ rather than a guy who fits their top stars

This trade has worked out better than I could’ve possibly hoped